On February 18th, 2011, our lives were changed forever when our son Christian Taylor Buchanan entered the world. He was born with a bilateral cleft palate and lip and almost completely blind. This blog is the story of his life, the joys we share, the challenges we encounter, and the amazing and trying journey ahead of our family!

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Christian Taylor Buchanan

Monday, January 23, 2012

How Could You Not

I have been filling my blog lately with articles that I write for the Cannon Courier on disability advocacy and education, and between writing that bi-weekly article, and law school, and a full time job, and being an active member of my church, AND raising a child who has special needs, I don' t have a whole lot of time to just sit and write from my heart. But recently, a topic struck me that I just had to post about.

A sweet, sweet friend told me this week through Facebook that she considered me the "epitome" of a good mother. I gasped at such an astounding comment. I do consider myself a very good mother, maybe a little over protective at times, maybe a little to obsessive about Christian's care at times. But if I have one flaw as a mom, it's that I care too much. But, when I read this comment, it definitely stayed with me for a few minutes. As I mulled it over in my head and tried to wrap my thoughts around it, I asked myself if I was really worthy of such a compliment. I contemplated on times when I felt less than a good mother, when I would lose my cool too easily because I was over exhausted and over -stressed. I remembered the time that Christian cried for an hour because he was hungry, and although I tried everything to calm him (except feed him) I remember the feeling when I realized that he was supposed to have eaten an hour ago and I had simply forgotten. There have been times when I wish I had reacted differently or done something differently, but in my heart, I know that I aspire to be the best mother that I can.

But as I was thinking about all this, a thought came to my mind of something a friend told me once. She is also the mother of a child with many special needs. We were talking about when people would tell us, "I don't see how you do it, raising a child with so many special needs." Tabetha's answer was simple, "How could I not do it?"

I guess it stuck with me because, like Tabetha, I had never thought about "not doing it." It was just what I did. It is hard, painful, and exhausting at times. If I could do something to make my son whole, I would do it in a heartbeat. If there was another way, I would probably choose it. But the fact of the matter is, it is not my choice.

When I tell people "It's not like I have a choice," they will answer "Yes, you do." I know they're referring to the choice I had to abort, or to put Christian up for adoption instead of raise him. But in all honesty, it was not my choice anymore than it was my choice to have a child born with a disability. God choose me, not to sound arrogant or haughty at all, I say it as humbly as I can. I remember being 15 and 16 years old, on my hands and knees at the alter of my church, and I would pray so earnestly that God use me in whatever way He chose. I told Him that I wanted His will for my life, not my own, and that my life was His to use, not mine. And I believe He did just that, because I asked Him too. So God chose me to be Christian's mother. Not because He knew that I could handle it or that I am so special, but because He knew that I would have the support I needed from family and friends, and because He knew that I would seek His help in raising Christian and getting through the hard times instead of trying to do it on my own. Again, I am not trying to lift myself up AT ALL. I am nothing without God. I am insignificant, unimportant, and worthless except for what God has placed inside of me, which is His spirit. All in all, I simply COULD NOT do this without His help and guidance. What do I know about raising a child with a disability? Not a thing. What do I know about God's plans? Nothing. But I stand firm on the scripture that we walk by faith and not by sight. I can't wait until the day that I can hear my son say those words and watch him live by those words. I know very little, but I know everything I need to know, because God guides my way and lights my path right where I need to take a step. Although there are times when I want to see the whole road, I am learning to have a sure footing in that one lit place.

Along the lines of being a "good mother," when Christian was a month or two old, a girl sent me a message through Facebook one day to inform me that I was a horrible mother because I did not abort Christian, but carried him to term and delivered him to live. She went on to explain how a friend of hers had a child diagnosed with the exact same thing as Christian and she loved her child so much that she aborted him so that he would not have to live such a horrid life. Without trying to diminish or belittle the pain that that woman was most certainly going through, I do have to say that she made an incredibly obvious wrong choice. I don't want to focus this part of my story on the woman who chose to abort her baby, because although she was wrong, I don't think it was a decision she made lightly or without thought. However, I would like to focus on the girl who cowardly approached me though Facebook to poke her nose in business that she was not involved in. This girl, sadly, had a small child, but apparently, did not grasp the concept of true love, which I see and feel in my son every day. She failed to see the gift beyond the packaging, the life beyond the loss, the joy beyond the tribulation, the peace beyond the chaos. Her vision was shallow. Her heart was weak. Her concept of love was defective. And because of that, she cannot understand what it means to not have choice in raising my son. The word "abortion" never crossed my mind when I was pregnant, but the word "love" sure did. Abortion was so far from a choice to me that it had literally never even hit me that I had the option until this girl brought it to my attention.

But to be honest, I didn't have a choice. Christian was alive the second God placed a soul into that tiny little embryo. He was my son before he was ever conceived. He was God's child LONG before the world began. So no, it's not my choice. It never was. So can I throw up my hands and just call it quits with Christian because the challenges are just too hard and I am too tired? I suppose I could, but will I? Absolutely not, and it's not because I am the "epitome" of a good mother. The answer has nothing to do with me at all. It is because God showed me to look beyond what I can see, to alter my idea of love to fit His idea of love, and to accept what He chose for my life because He is God and I am not. So, in what I do for Christian, how could I not?

11 comments:

God chose you for his own reason. He knows your strengths and your weaknesses. He knows when you have had enough, when you are exhausted and when you ask, "Why me?" He also knows that the second you heard your son cry that you were forever in love.

People in this world can be ugly and as Jesus begged of his Father, please forgive them for they do not know what they do. You have a precious life there with you that depends on you with every ounce of strength you have left in your being. I hope to see God reward you in the end of days; he really made a beautiful woman.

Being a new mother, I appreciated what you said in this last post. I had to check myself. I am a military wife and that means I'm basically a single mother and sometimes I just can't wait for a little time to myself just to cook or to stop listening to the whining. I know it is completely natural to feel the way, but nonetheless, every second is precious.

About your marriage: I"m praying for it. I hope you both can come out of this stronger than you ever believed you could.

Your son is perfect. He is how God molded him which is perfection because everything made with God's hand is perfect. Thank you for sharing your life with the rest of us. Really, thank you and just remember that you have our sympathies, our support, our love and our excitement to see what kind of amazing man your son grows up to be!

my fiance showed me your video which brought a tear to my eye and quitened my soul just watching a mother cherish every second of Christians life. I'm glad that Christian was brought into your arms. I would say be strong, but I dont really have to as you truly are strong for ignoring peoples ignorance. I would like to add you to my facebook if thats okay, for I'd love to know christian.

Lacey,I cannot imagine the horror and pain you have had to endure. I cannot imagine loving someone with every fiber of my being and have someone tell me they did not even deserve to live. It is a true tragedy. I believe Christian has so many things to teach us of true love. Christian has life, he has a beautiful soul. It is a unbearable to think of the zero compassion people have. You are living example how we are supposed to respond to God's will, just like Mary. " Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be done with me according to your word".—Luke 1:38

I do not know how to tell you, what a blessing your testimony & words have been to me. We have 5 children- all girls :). Two have pretty severe autism (mostly non-verbal, melt-downs, one is extremely OCD, & has many issues with toleration). I get that statement a lot as well, "I don't know how you do it." I, usually, just tell them it is only by God. But I love your words, "The answer has nothing to do with me at all. It is because God showed me to look beyond what I can see, to alter my idea of love to fit His idea of love, and to accept what He chose for my life because He is God and I am not." If you don't mind, I would like to copy this & read it on a regular basis. May God Bless~ Kristin

You have a really nice blog and thank you for sharing your experiences. I really got teary eyed when you were talking about Christian's operation. Like you I am a mother too of a two year old son (his name is Warren). And I felt the pain when you were talking about how Christian was crying after the operation but you couldn't do anything. Really a mother's love is so unconditional that other people will never know. You are an amazing person and I really brave and you have a beautiful boy. And remember, what matters is the inside. Everything you see outside is nothing if you don't have a good heart. Cheers to you.

Hi lacey...you write from your heart and thats why it touches everyone of us. Christian is indeed a darling baby. He will help you be your best at all times. I love reading your blog and follow christians updates on facebook. I am a mom of an eight month old baby boy too and you truly are my inspiration. May god bless your family.

When I was pregnant I declined any testing (down syndrome, cystic fibrous, etc) simply because I would have never aborted. I think you made the right choice and have a beautiful baby boy. Anyone who tells another person they should have aborted, are nothing but heartless cowards.

When I was pregnant I declined any testing (down syndrome, cystic fibrous, etc) simply because I would have never aborted. I think you made the right choice and have a beautiful baby boy. Anyone who tells another person they should have aborted, are nothing but heartless cowards.

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About Me

I am a Christian, mother, wife, daughter, aunt, sister, and friend to some amazing people. I am a student at Nashville School of Law. I work at a daycare. I am passionate about disability advocacy and education.